Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Free concert at the National Zoo on Monday: Portugal. The Man

This is pretty cool: Alaskan indie rock band Portugal. The Man is playing at the National Zoo this Monday at 6:30, as part of The Endangered Song, an advocacy campaign for endangered Sumatran tigers.

The band and the zoo made 400 records with The Endangered Song on it, because there are 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild. But there's a catch -- the records will wear down as they're played, and need to be digitally reproduced -- like the tigers need to breed to survive as a species. Interesting stuff.

The records went out to 400 folks, who must reproduce the song digitally. Here's more on the project, and the press release below.

Free Portgual. The Man Concert at National Zoo

WHAT: Portgual. The Man will perform a free stripped down concert at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo as part of the #EndangeredSong campaign. Guests can register via Eventbrite.com.

WHEN: Monday, May 12
6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
(Please note: The band goes on promptly at 6:30 p.m. Media may arrive at 5:30 p.m.)

WHERE: Band Shell at Lion/Tiger Hill
Smithsonian’s National Zoo
3001 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
(Please note: media credentials are required for free parking. Parking Lot D (paid), near the Harvard Street gates, is the closest to Lion/Tiger Hill. Any guests taking Metro and entering from the Connecticut Avenue pedestrian gates should allow 10 to 15 minutes to walk to the band shell.)

WHO: Portgual. The Man
Great Cats Team, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and National Zoo and indie band Portgual. The Man launched the #EndangeredSong Project April 22, Earth Day 2014. The analog meets digital outreach campaign has been raising awareness about the critically endangered Sumatran tiger and the need for conservation efforts. The Zoo and the band distributed a previously unreleased song titled “Sumatran Tiger” to 400 social media influencers on 400 custom polycarbonate records, which will degrade after a certain amount of plays. With no other copies in existence, the 400 participants were tasked with digitizing and “breeding” the song through their social channels with #EndangeredSong.

Portugal. The Man will begin their performance promptly at 6:30 p.m. There is no opening act. The Great Cats team at the Zoo will be available to answer questions about Sumatran tigers—including the three living there—and conservation. Food and beverages will be available for purchase during the concert. The Zoo’s Speedwell Conservation Carousel will play music by Portugal. The Man that evening to celebrate the Endangered Song Project.